NFL Preview: Buffalo Bills

The Bills finished dead-last in a highly-competitive division last year.

Don't expect anything to change.

Buffalo are outclassed from top to bottom by each and every team in the AFC East. New England are regaining their swagger after a promising training camp and the return to fitness of Wes Welker and Tom Brady. The Miami Dolphins have a lot to smile about in Brandon Marshall, acquired from the Broncos in a gift of a trade. Furthermore, Chad Henne - who is starting to look like a top-tier passer - will be throwing him the ball - this is a team in motion. And then there's the New York Jets; the team that fell one game short of the Superbowl, getting to the AFC championship game with a rookie QB. The Jets have got stronger in the offseason and are teeming with talented players.

The Bills have...well... they haven't done all that much...

Good news: Paul Posluszny has returned to a thinning LB corps. Marshall Lynch isn't in jail. C.J. Spiller promises to be one of the best players of this year's draft class (though might be wondering if his signing with the Bills has condemened him to a career-long Barry Sanders-esque derth of trophies). They have sweet cornerbacks. Their coach hasn't lost an NFL game since 1999.

Bad News:
Their coach hasn't won a game since 1999. And here's something that's always bothered me: the Bills are a cold weather team, right? That means that the inclement conditions are going to make passing awkard. So you can expect the visiting team to run the ball a lot, and avoid comitting the ball to air. So if you're a home team in such conditions, what's the best tactic? Do you shorten the game by keeping the ball on the ground, or do you - I don't know - figure out a way to give yourself home advantage? Write up a new gameplan that utilises short passes, screens, the occassional bomb to show you're comfortable with homefield conditions. Don't hide behind two running backs week in week out and wonder why you're getting beaten.

Playing a slow-scoring game as the Bills do invites your opposition to strike quickly - and pro football teams don't need much of an invitation.

The Bills need two awesome receivers and some guy to throw the ball to them. Anyone. Take a guy off the street. He'll do.

Don't expect much this season, Bills fans. Give it two more seasons and then you might see the playoffs.

Maybe...


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